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Bird Sounds: Mourning Doves

A mourning dove rests on a warm rock.

Photo Credit
Photo by US Fish and Wildlife via Wikimedia Commons

Mourning Dove Calls

Heidi Stonehill
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The mourning dove, with its soft coo and graceful flight, is a familiar sight and sound across North America. This gentle bird, found in backyards, parks, and open fields, holds a special place in the hearts of many. Whether you’re an aspiring birdwatcher or simply curious about these ubiquitous feathered neighbors, dive into the fascinating world of the mourning dove!

Mourning Doves: More Than Just a Pretty Face

  • The Most Widespread Bird in North America: Mourning doves boast an impressive population exceeding 350 million across the continent, making them the most abundant game bird and a common backyard visitor.
  • Identify Mourning Doves: Look for their slender grey bodies, long tails, and the black spots adorning their wings. Their gentle cooing call is also a helpful identifier.
  • Unexpectedly Fast Flyers: Don’t underestimate these seemingly unassuming birds! Reaching speeds of up to 55 mph, mourning doves are swift fliers, capable of impressive bursts of speed during courtship displays and evading predators.
  • Masters of Adaptability: These resourceful birds thrive in diverse habitats, from deserts to woodlands to urban parks. Their diet of seeds and grains allows them to flourish in a variety of environments.
  • A Symphony of Coos: The mourning dove’s signature call, a mournful yet strangely comforting coo, is a familiar sound in backyards and natural areas. This vocalization plays a crucial role in attracting mates and defending territories.
    Beyond the Backyard:
  • Cultural Significance: Mourning doves have earned a place in folklore and traditions across North America. Native American tribes revered them as symbols of peace and hope, while their cooing often found its way into poetry and music.
  • Conservation Concerns: While abundant overall, localized populations can face threats from habitat loss and pesticide use. Understanding these challenges and supporting conservation efforts helps ensure the future of this beloved bird.

Attracting Mourning Doves

You can attract Mourning Doves to your garden by providing access to water sources and planting native seed-bearing plants like sunflowers and millet. Open platforms or ground feeders filled with seeds like safflower and corn will offer a tasty invitation.

More Than Just a Name

The mourning dove’s name may evoke melancholy, but this adaptable and captivating bird embodies resilience and grace. Whether you’re observing their graceful flight or listening to their soothing calls, appreciate the presence of these feathered neighbors and learn more about their vital role in our ecosystem.

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Click here to listen to the sounds of other birds!

Have you heard a Mourning Dove? Add your comments below. Be sure to let us know where you live or where you’ve heard this bird sound before!

Bird Sounds
About The Author

Heidi Stonehill

Heidi Stonehill is the executive editor for The Old Farmer’s ÃÛÌÒÁµÈË, where she focuses much of her time on managing content development for the ÃÛÌÒÁµÈË’s line of calendars. Read More from Heidi Stonehill
 

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Comments

Alessandra (not verified)

8 years 6 months ago

Oh and just to let you know I live here in California I live in the city of villa park and sometimes I hear doves in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon but never at night but I love the sound that they make and it's so peaceful to me

Alessandra (not verified)

8 years 6 months ago

I love the sound of this bird. Every time when I hear the sound of this bird it makes me think of my dad. Every time when my dad hears this bird it makes him think of me and we will always think of each other every time we hear this bird.

Desi (not verified)

8 years 6 months ago

I was completely taken aback when I heard this bird one morning, that took me straight back to my childhood in the Caribbean. I used to hear this every morning when I woke up. When I heard it recently, it brought back so many memories I decided I had to figure out what it was!

George (not verified)

8 years 6 months ago

I am from NYC and I remember hearing these birds for the last 20 years. When I was a boy I thought they were owls. They are really beautiful birds...

Colleen (not verified)

8 years 7 months ago

I love having these birds near, years ago I saw a hawk in the front yard eating one. My friend had them nesting on the ground next to her house, we have a stray tomcat so that's probably not going to happen here.

lala land (not verified)

8 years 7 months ago

When I lived in Clark County, Ohio, I could hear the mourning dove at any time, but since I've been in South Central Ohio I only hear it at dusk, as if telling everyone it's time to pack it in for the day. It always catches my attention because the song is so soulful. Robins to wake me up, cardinals to call the dog during the afternoon (that's what I thought the call was the very first time I heard it -- someone calling their dog), and the mourning dove telling me the day is done. Ah, nature.

Mike (not verified)

8 years 7 months ago

Have heard them wherever I have lived. Very relaxing.

Kathy (not verified)

8 years 8 months ago

I live near Sacramento, CA. I hear them every morning. They wake me up and I can't go back to sleep. Woo, Coo, Coo, Coo, wait 10 seconds. Woo, Coo, Coo, Coo, wait 10 seconds. Over and over.

al w (not verified)

8 years 8 months ago

Yea i thought it was an owl. Im searching for owl sounds and BAM! The mourning dove was on the list of sound a likes! Ive heard this b4 but never paid any attention. Im in Cleveland,oh.

David Irish (not verified)

8 years 8 months ago

I hear this sound nearly every morning when the weather is warmer. I live in White River Junction, VT.